The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-22
THE SWALLOW FAMILY.
A Few OF the Habits Peculiar TO the Swift.
Winged Chirpers.

A Few OF the Habits Peculiar 60 the Swift.
Winged Chirpers.
Most OF the swallows Of Europe and
America belong to the genus hiruntfd.
They are all noted for their speed.
When after their food. which generally |
consists of insects, they fly after them
with remarkable skill and grace, going |
at the rate of mile minute. They |
often drink while flying over stream
at II high rate of speed, and they often
wash themselves by taking sudden
plunge. They live on the wing more
than any other bird, and. 1t is claimed,
feed their young in the air. Although |
quite graceful when on the wing, they
are directly the opposite when on the
ground, being very awkward and
clumsy. This is caused by their wings
being long and the legs short. The old
belief that swallows foretell rain by
| flying low seems very logical. AS their
| food consists of insects they would be
liable to fly where insects are most
abundant. Insects fly very low in
damp weather, SO it seems that it can
not be very unwise to say that they
foretcll rain by flying low. 1t has been
estimated that they eat 1000 insects
day. This is n large number and
seems too much, but the claim is made
by those who have made the matter
a study. Their nests are generally
made of mud and clay, but through
out the South the people make
them boxes. This is done more for
protection than any thing and the
novelty of the boxes warrants adescrip-
ton. The farmers cut long smooth
sapling. often being sixty feet long.
He nails cross pieces on these saplings
rs on u telegraph pole. To each OF
these cross pieces he will add, say eight
large gourds, which in their wild state
in the South grow to be very large. He
cuts these gourds so that the birds can
get in, and before two weeks have past
the gourds are filled with swallows.
They always receive the best attention
and protection, for they not only kill
insects, but they are foe of the hawk.
No hawk ever appears where there are
swallow boxes, for if he did, he would
receive u good drubbing. The best
known species of the swallow in the
world is the chimney swallow. 1t is
about six and one-half inches long, its
, back q blush black with a band on the
chest, and the throat ruddy. 1t gener-
ally has white spot on the inner web
: of each tail feather except the two
innermost. The tail is very long and
forked. AS the name indicates, it fire.
quents chimneys, but it also builds its
nest in old walls, shafts of mines and
, among the rafters of barns and sheds.
| The nest is very peculiar being cup
, shaped and made of earth and straw,
+ lined with feathers. This is attached
; to q wall or roof and makes a very
8 strong nest. The parents are very at.
tentive to the young and defend then
z bravcly. They have two broods, but
t the second is sometimes left to perish,
o not being able to quit the nest in time
> of migration. The males are very cour-
O ageous and are very sweet singers
: The analogue of this species in Amer
!. lea is not the one called the chimney
n swallow, but what is known as the barr
Il swallow 1t is seven inches long ant
J thirteen inches between the tip of tn;
II wings. 1t inhabits nearly all parts o
). America, appearing in the Southern
d States from February to March. 4
J few reach the New England States b,
h May. Its nest is made of moist eartl
q mixed with grasses and is attached t.
y rafters of barns and buildings. Th
y nest is about eight inches long and 81:
D inches in diameter. They have becl
n found weighing as much as two pounds
II Incubation lasts thirteen days. bot
@ sexes assisting, and both occu
|, pying the nest ut night unit
the young are Matched. This
d the species that so often collects to
u gethcr in large hocks on telegrap
wires, barns and sheds and they kee
d up continual chirping all the time
T. They start for the South about the las
,t of August or the first of September
= selecting some fair morning. They d
It not fly very high, and follow the cours
n. of rivers. The cliff swallow is abou
II five inches long and twelve inches i
,r alar extent. Its crown and back ar
t steel blue. and are separated by gra
It collar. The chin, throat and sides NJ
a of dark chestnut, but the breast
ia white. The cliff swallow is found a
over America, and is often called tn
republican swallow. The nest is ger
orally built under caves and cornice:
where it is partly sheltered from tn
. rain. The nest is made of earth an
d, sand, and is lined with straw an
;o' grass. The sand swallow. which is TIL
- smallest of all, generally builds its mes
n in tubular gullies along the banks {
m in rivers, often running them back thre
!, feet. The swallow, it must be admi
W w ted, does more good than harm, and
sh seems that it should be protected
NJ, Springfield 10. J Times.
III Americas Timber Supply.